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2:29 AM

Govt extends work from home norms for IT, BPO companies till December 31

The government on Tuesday said it has extended connectivity norms for work from home for IT and BPO companies till December 31.

 

The time period for work from home was expiring on July 31.

 

"DoT has further extended the relaxations in the terms and conditions for other service providers up to 31st December 2020 to facilitate work from home in view of the ongoing concern due to Covid-19," the Department of Telecommunications said in a late night tweet.

2:28 AM

Govt to soon come out with a list of strategic sectors: DEA Secretary

In line with the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' package, Economic Affairs Secretary Tarun Bajaj on Tuesday said the government will soon come out with a list of strategic sectors, and public sector companies in non-strategic sectors will be privatised.

 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had in May announced that there will be a maximum of four public sector companies in strategic sectors, and state-owned firms in other segments will eventually be privatised.

2:46 AM

Rains may pick up in the next few days over north and south India: IMD

The southwest monsoon has made a steady start across India in the first one and a half months. However, north India, particularly in Western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, parts of Rajasthan, and Coastal Karnataka, has still not received adequate rainfall.

 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its latest forecast said rains would pick up in the next few days over north and south India.

2:45 AM

India seeks new preferential treatment from US on drugs, other goods

India is seeking concessions for generic drugs it exports to the US in return for opening its dairy markets and slashing tariffs on farm goods as the two sides seek to shore up a new trade deal, three sources said.

 

India accounts for 40 per cent of US generic drug imports, including the anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine, touted by US President Donald Trump in the fight against Covid-19.

 

To win preferential treatment on pharmaceutical exports, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is dangling the carrot of opening its dairy and farm markets to the Trump administration, months ahead of the US presidential election.

2:45 AM

Bureaucratic reshuffle: P Amudha appointed joint secretary in PMO

enior bureaucrat P Amudha has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Keshav Chandra as the Director of Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), as part of a senior-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected on Monday by the Centre.

 

Amudha, a 1994 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, is currently serving as Professor, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie.

2:45 AM

Indian medical experts hail Oxford trial results for Covid-19 vaccine

Medical experts in India on Monday hailed the results of Oxford University's early-stage human trials for a Covid-19 vaccine, with some saying it's the "most scientifically done" among all such exercises, while others expressing hope that the final trials will "bear fruit".

 

From clinicians to pathology experts, doctors in the country feel the Oxford trials have been the "most transparent" one by far.

2:44 AM

We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus: Trump

1:07 AM

India begins anti-subsidy probe on Chinese export of certain yarn

The Commerce and Industry Ministry on Monday initiated a probe into alleged low-cost imports of a certain type of yarn from China, which is impacting the domestic industry.

 

The Commerce Ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has started the probe to assess if the subsidy programme of China for exports of 'Viscose Rayon Filament Yarn above 60 deniers'' is impacting the Indian industry.

 

Association of Man-Made Fibre Industry of India (AMFII) has filed an application before the DGTR, on behalf of domestic industry, for anti-subsidy investigation on the imports of this yarn from China.

1:06 AM

Bihar CM alerts officials for possible flood situation due to heavy rainfall

1:04 AM

ED freezes 60 bank accounts in India on Brazil's request

The Enforcement Directorate is understood to have initiated a process to freeze over 60 bank accounts in the country on the request of the Brazilian government in connection with a money laundering case in that country, offiicials said on Monday.

 

They said the agency has undertaken the action under the provision of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in pursuance of a mutual agreement between the two nations to combat financial crimes.

 

The over 60 bank accounts are held by some individuals and businessmen based in the country, they said.

1:03 AM

Trump lacks strategic vision, historical knowledge: Bolton

Former national security adviser John Bolton said Monday he believes President Donald Trump committed several impeachable offenses, but Democratic congressional leaders doomed their effort to remove him from office by rushing the process for partisan purposes.

 

Bolton told a Florida group in an online presentation that Trump's business and re-election concerns drive not only his dealings with Ukraine, which led to his impeachment by the House, but also with China, Turkey and other countries.

12:59 AM

Heavy rainfall lashes Rajpath area of Delhi

12:38 AM

TMC prepares for its first mega virtual rally on July 21

Even as the TMC leadership is apprehensive whether its first mega digital rally on July 21 would evoke a similar response as it used to during previous years, all eyes are on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's message to party workers ahead of next year's crucial assembly polls.

 

According to party sources, Banerjee is likely to kick start the party's digital campaign for the 2021 assembly polls with the rally.

 

The July 21 rally is not just a show of strength on the part of TMC but also a platform which sets the tone of the party's policies and politics for the entire year.

12:34 AM

Gehlot govt withdraws 'general consent' for CBI investigation; BJP says CM is hiding something

12:33 AM

Rebel Cong MLA alleges Gehlot harassing Rajasthan legislators

Dissident Congress MLA Vishvendra Singh on Monday night accused Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of misusing his powers to harass legislators who have challenged his "misrule and lack of leadership".

 

He said he was a cabinet minister until recently but now FIRs are filed against him by the Special Operations Group and the Anti Corruption Bureau.

 

He warned the government that the public was "watching it all".

 

"ACB and SOG were misused for registering cases against me and Bhanwarlal Sharma as we had challenged Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for his misrule and lack of leadership," Singh said in a statement.